Deepak Pahwa - Chairman, Pahwa Group & Managing Director, Bry-Air on Manufacturing Industry and Industrial Economy :
"The upcoming budget is expected to give a decisive push towards achieving India's ambitious climate goals. In the pursuit, the policies should focus on industrial economy hinging on green and resilient infrastructure. Initiatives for boosting sustainable manufacturing, adoption of energy-efficient technologies and decarbonizing the industry should form the core of the framework. Accordingly, it is expected that the upcoming budget will table fiscal incentives for promoting green industry delving deep into pioneering environmental control solutions. Investments in climate-robust infrastructure for reducing emissions across the production cycles will aid in fortifying global competitiveness of the industry. Altogether, prioritizing operational efficiency, circular models and optimal resource utilization will help mitigate the carbon footprint of the industries and instate their climate leadership globally."
Nirvaan Birla, Managing Director, Birla Open Minds Education Ltd
“The upcoming Budget is a golden opportunity to accelerate India’s journey toward becoming a global talent powerhouse. A deeper focus on teacher empowerment can transform the National Education Policy from vision to reality. The future belongs to nations that invest in learners today—equipping every student to thrive in a digital-first world.
As we head into #Budget2026, there is strong reason for optimism. The intent around digital learning, AI readiness, skills-integrated education, and innovation is clear, and with over two lakh recognised startups, India has the execution capacity to match its ambition.”
Rathnakar Samavedam, Investment Director & Managing Partner, Hyderabad Angels Fund (haf.vc)
“The government’s removal of Angel Tax for future investments is a significant step forward. To truly unlock long-term investor confidence, Budget 2026 must now focus on ecosystem hygiene and procedural certainty.
We urge the Finance Minister to introduce two critical reforms:
• A Legacy Settlement Window — a one-time, simplified mechanism to resolve all pending retrospective Angel Tax disputes and free entrepreneurs and capital from prolonged litigation.
• Fast-Track Loss Booking — automatic linkage between startup strike-off and the Income Tax Act, allowing investors immediate clarity to book capital losses.
Such certainty ensures that failure in the startup ecosystem becomes a quick, learning-enabled comma—not a dead end.”
Kalyan Sivalenka, Managing Partner, Hyderabad Angels Fund (haf.vc)
“As we look ahead to the Union Budget on February 1, 2026, India has a historic opportunity to evolve from a startup hub into a global deep-tech powerhouse by the end of this decade. Doubling down on the ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds and extending startup tax holidays until 2030 would provide the long-term capital certainty needed to build sovereign IP in AI, SpaceTech, and ClimateTech.
These reforms move the ecosystem from growth-at-any-cost to sustainable, unit-economics-led models—driving high-productivity jobs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities while reducing reliance on foreign technology. For investors like haf.vc, deploying a ₹100-crore fund in these frontiers, policy continuity is essential to building a truly Viksit Bharat.”
Lalit Ahuja, Founder & CEO, ANSR
“To convert India’s strong GCC momentum into sustained global investment, Budget 2026 must address predictability, competitiveness, and talent enablement. A clear, nationwide tax incentive framework for GCCs—especially for IP creation, R&D, and high-end services—aligned with global benchmarks like Singapore and Ireland, is essential.
Greater GST clarity on cross-border inter-company services would reduce compliance friction and accelerate scaling. Targeted budgetary support for workforce upskilling in AI, software engineering, data sciences, and cloud technologies will strengthen the talent pipeline for the over two million professionals employed in India’s GCC ecosystem.
Additionally, capital expenditure support for GCC expansion, including technology infrastructure and real estate, can unlock growth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities—sending a strong signal to global CEOs about India’s long-term commitment.”
Nitin Chitkara, CEO, MMCM
“As India advances toward developed-nation status, circularity must be treated as core economic infrastructure—not a peripheral policy. True superpower status will be defined not only by GDP growth, but by clean air, clean water, and efficient resource use.
This Budget presents a vital opportunity to accelerate a high-circularity ecosystem by rationalising GST on recycled materials and related services, including government-issued Certificates of Deposit for end-of-life vehicles. Incentivising formal, traceable recycling will strengthen domestic supply chains and position India as an emerging environmental superpower.”
Mr. Lovekesh Phasu, Group Chief Operating Officer, Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru
As India approaches the Union Budget, there is a critical opportunity to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem through sustained and outcome-driven investments. While recent budgetary allocations have expanded access and improved public health coverage, the next phase must prioritise preventive healthcare, advanced medical infrastructure, and continuous upskilling of healthcare professionals.
The upcoming Budget should earmark higher allocations for tertiary and quaternary care, incentivise technology adoption through tax benefits for digital health, AI-enabled diagnostics, and medical equipment manufacturing, and expand viability gap funding for public–private partnerships. Rationalising GST on medical devices, offering weighted tax deductions for R&D, and improving access to affordable credit for healthcare MSMEs will further accelerate innovation and self-reliance.
A future-ready healthcare system is not only essential for better patient outcomes but is also a cornerstone of economic productivity and resilience. Recognizing healthcare as core economic infrastructure will unlock private investment, drive innovation, and build a resilient system that supports India's long-term growth and national wellbeing.
Rakshith Rangarajan, Equity Fund Manager, Inviga Investment Advisors Private Limited
"The Budget 2026 needs to address not only infrastructure and financing, but also the human capital that runs the healthcare system—students, healthcare workers, and beneficiaries. It is reasonable to expect Budget 2026 to sustain and strengthen flagship programmes such as Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the Health and Wellness Centre initiative, while introducing targeted measures for workforce and talent development.
Equally critical is strengthening public academic and tertiary-care institutions to improve working conditions and career pathways for healthcare professionals. Budget 2026 could operationalise a National Healthcare Faculty and Skills Mission with a ring-fenced allocation to: (i) fill sanctioned but vacant faculty posts in government medical, nursing, and allied health institutions; and (ii) establish high-fidelity simulation and skills laboratories in a defined cohort of medical, nursing, and paramedical colleges. This would directly support competency-based training and measurable improvements in quality and patient safety.
Finally, the Budget should expand merit- and need-linked scholarships, along with bonded training pathways, for students from underserved and aspirational districts in priority disciplines such as family medicine, emergency and critical care, geriatrics, oncology nursing, and other NCD-related specialties. Properly designed service bonds and posting norms can ensure that this enhanced pool of trained professionals is deployed in Tier II–III cities and rural districts, where disease burden is rising and specialist availability remains constrained."
Rana George, Managing Director, Kelachandra Coffee
"India's coffee sector stands at a crossroads. Strong global demand and premium price cycles meet rising climate uncertainty, higher cultivation costs, labour constraints and tougher export compliance. Budget 2026 is a timely opportunity to strengthen farm resilience through irrigation, tailored crop insurance, long-tenure credit for replanting and support for mechanisation, and to invest in research for climate-tolerant varieties. We need a national digital traceability backbone to meet evolving regulations, plus incentives for value-added exports, post-harvest infrastructure and quality labs. Supporting skills for roasting and baristas and origin-brand building will help India move from exporter of green beans to a recognised premium origin. If the Budget prioritises resilience, traceability, research and branding, growers and the sector will benefit."
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